Rick writes:
Here are three fragments of life seen through a Zentangle lens.
1
We live in an oldish (1875) Victorian home. Some of the windows have the original wrinkled glass. After raising the sash on the window in my office, I noticed that the two right panes were the old glass and the two left panes were modern flat glass. The sun cast shadows on the roof across the street in a way that reminded me of diva dance.
We introduced this tangle about 10 years (!) ago. You can learn more of its story in this newsletter and see its step out in this newsletter.
2
Maria showed me this image from a quote of the day email:
After talking about it, we thought that, from a Zentangle perspective, it would read, "Make amazing mistakes glorious."
3
A few days ago I went outside before bed to look at the full moon. Then I noticed a well-formed "Z" in the sky. As it began to dissolve (the top was as clearly defined as the bottom) I thought to grab a picture. That bright light on the left is the moon.
After people learn to tangle, they often exclaim, "I see patterns!"
How does your world look to you through your Zentangle lens?
Tomoko on
Ramadevi Srinivasan on
I love seeing new patterns and identifying Zentangle patterns in the WILD. While watching a Nat Geo animal show about giraffes last night, I noted that the marking of the Reticulated Giraffe, native to the Horn of Africa, has similar markings to Zentangle pattern Pangea! Enjoying the simple goodness that is Pangea, I found myself in a virtual vortex as I looked up patterns found on other giraffe species that could become Tangelations of Pangea.
Debbie Thompson on
Jeanne on
Egleé Torres Zuleta on
I love seeing the Z over your home – like the sky is announcing, “This is where you can find the creators of the Zentangle Method! Here is where you will find unconditional love in the form of tangling!”
I have seen patterns since I was a little kid and already drawing with whatever tool and paper I could find. Photography classes taught me to look for and take pictures of patterns found in the world, whether natural or made by humans. Digital imaging courses kept that alive and other students would be surprised how my photographs focused on the patterns to the point they could not tell what object I had photographed for the project. I was able to pull at least 20 patterns from a motorcycle in the campus parking lot.
When I was a period clothing designer and sewer, fabric patterns and textures became important to make an authentic piece of period clothing using modern materials.
Patterns are everywhere if you just look. Sometimes you have to get close to the source to see the delicate lines and shapes that make the pattern of a large object. I suggest to all my fellow tanglers to always have your phone’s camera ready to capture all the incredible patterns in the world!
Sending my love to the Zentangle Family and all the tanglers in the world who are part of my tangle family!
bakayaro onna (Debbie Smith) CZT38 on
Sue Leslie on
Great post of observations, and yes I find myself talking in two languages now, (which is pretty impressive for the totally non linguistic person that I am), my first language, and Zentomology!
ildica Boyd on
Thanks for this, Rick & Maria.
After studying Zentangle painting, I will tell my students to open up their five senses.
Whether they are traveling or living, they will observe the surrounding environment and beautiful scenery……. ,
there are surprises of Zentangle painting everywhere!!!!
李玉玲(Sara Lee) on
The only drawback that I can see with discovering Zentangle is that I am now so aware of how many patterns there are to see in nature, fabrics, tiles – yet what a special problem to have! So grateful for every stepout created by amazing artists, every beautiful post to Mosaic, every additional Project Pack…oh, my! A rich abundance or possibilities!
Mary Lindeblad on
My Zentangle lens come full tilt when I am grounded and relaxed. I think, it’s only during those moments that I’m ‘open’ to seeing different perspectives. Call it Zentangle-dreaming (instead of day dreaming). It has occurred inside, holding my young granddaughter as she falls asleep- her blanket folds look mesmerizing; it has occurred outside, feeling the wind rush against me face as I see leaves that seem to change their shape. Thank you for opening my eyes.
Nancy Needler on
Pattern (and Zentangle) is a love affair!
Vivian on
Joyce Rosenberger on
It’s not just tangles that I see when looking about. I even see strings within which I can tangle. I also love textured glass, and I sometimes play with it as a glass artist too!
Catherine Gisby on
Ann Baum on
Marilyn Iezzi on
1) We were redecorating a long wall in our living room. We choose a white wallpaper with black loopy lines on it. My then 4yr old daughter came in, saw the wall and wondered loudly: “Now why do we have a tangled wall?!” Yes, she already saw tangles in the pattern 😁
2) I loved the exercise as homework during the summer seminar in 2012 to make a tangle out of patterns or prints we see around us. I still love to make tangles from intricate patterns I see around me 😁
ArjadLH, CZT9 on
So many patterns in our lives. I thought I would go crazy in Porto several years ago with all the tile. It’s everywhere. And then I walked into my hotel room and there was a chair upholstered in Mooka. Thanks for the column, Rick, especially the roof’s wonderful Diva Dance.
Tommye Morrison on
Some 15 years ago or so I purchased this gorgeous 13′×11′ area rug for my living room that I still treasure to this day.. I found it (or maybe it found me) while shopping for living room furniture and I immediately fell in love with the color and especially the unique swirls and shapes. Then in 2018 I stumble across the world of Zentangle.. become so immersed in the magic of this artform I book a plane ticket to Rhode Island and the rest is history as the saying goes… back to my rug. I come home and look at my rug and realize that I was in love with Zentangle before I was even enlightened to it’s art form as my rug is literally a Zentangle masterpiece! I would love to share a picture of it if anyone would like to see!
Linda Hunter CZT 31 on
Ruth Dailey on
Lise Orwig on
Jessica Dykes on
Taking an early morning walk at the beach, I noticed a beach vehicle had been by, leaving his tire tracks in the sand. The first thing I thought: Oh, look, a Zentangle pattern.
Judy on
I now also notice patterns everywhere as well…some of which I recognize as current Zentangle patterns and think “that’s cool….its’ the _________ pattern” and others I look at and try to figure out the easiest way to create them! Since starting to do Zentangle I look at the world a little differently….first it was an outlet for me during Covid, lock down etc., and a way to keep my mental state healthy, and now it’s pure joy to be able to draw and its essential to keeping me healthy and happy. Thank you Zentangle, so very glad I found you.
Dianne on
Kathy Y. on